Device for Changing the Operational State of an Apparatus

• US 20110115335A1
• Filed: 07/06/2009
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elo Touch Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Elo Touch Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Pelletier, Sebastien
• Granted Patent: US 8,946,973 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/318
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/325 Power saving in peripheral device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for changing the operational state of an apparatus, in particular from a stand-by or power down mode into an active state, which, in order to reduce power consumption during a stand-by mode and, furthermore, in order to reduce accidental powering up of the apparatus, comprises at least one means for transforming a mechanical excitation, in particular applied to the surface of the apparatus, into an electric signal and a power providing means for supplying at least a part of, in particular all, the electric power necessary to enable a change of the operational state of the apparatus wherein the electric power is obtained out of the electric signal. The invention, furthermore, relates to any apparatus comprising this device for changing operational state and a corresponding method.

Claims

1-22. -22. (canceled)

23. Device for changing the operational state of an apparatus, in particular from a zero power or stand-by or power down mode into an active state, comprising:

at least one means for transforming a mechanical excitation, applied to the surface of the apparatus, into an electric signal, the at least one means for transforming comprising a passive transducer and a means for amplifying the excitation, the passive transducer disposed between a rigid excitation transmitting means and a support with a central recessed area, and

a power providing means for supplying at least a part of the electric power necessary to enable a change of the operational state of the apparatus;

wherein the electric power is obtained out of the electric signal.

24. Device according to claim 23, wherein the piezoelectric transducer is configured to function in bending mode.

25. Device according to claim 23, wherein the support comprises a plurality of pillars.

26. Device according to claim 23, wherein the power providing means comprises a voltage peak preventing means, in particular a low drop out voltage regulator or varistor.

27. Device according to claim 26, wherein the power providing means further comprises a rectifier, in particular a Schottky bridge rectifier.

28. Device according to claim 23, wherein the power providing means further comprises an energy storage means, in particular at least one capacitor.

29. Device according to claim 23, further comprising an auxiliary power source comprising at least one of a photoelectric cell, a diode, a capacitance, a battery, a piezoelectric cell, pyroelectric or thermoelectric converter or an electrostatic harvesting source or an ambient radiation source.

30. A device for changing the operational state of an apparatus, from a zero power or stand-by or power down mode into an active state, comprising:

at least one means for transforming a mechanical excitation, applied to the surface of the apparatus, into an electric signal;

a power providing means for supplying at least a part of the electric power necessary to enable a change of the operational state of the apparatus; and

a wake-up means configured to generate a wake-up signal for changing the operational state of at least a sub-system of the apparatus;

wherein the electric power is obtained out of the electric signal.

31. Device according to claim 30, wherein the piezoelectric transducer is configured to function in bending mode.

32. Device according to claim 31, wherein the wake-up means comprises a logic unit, in particular a microcontroller and/or logic gates.

33. Device according to claim 31, further comprising an auxiliary power source comprising at least one of a photoelectric cell, a diode, a capacitance, a battery, a piezoelectric cell, pyroelectric or thermoelectric converter or an electrostatic harvesting source or an ambient radiation source.

34. Device according to claim 31, configured such that the energy provided by the power providing means which is below a threshold provides a wake-up signal used to charge the auxiliary power source, in particular a capacitor or battery.

35. Apparatus comprising:

a device for changing the operational state of an apparatus, from a zero power or stand-by or power down mode into an active state, comprising;

at least one means for transforming a mechanical excitation, applied to the surface of the apparatus, into an electric signal;

a power providing means for supplying at least a part of the electric power necessary to enable a change of the operational state of the apparatus, wherein the electric power is obtained out of the electric signal; and

a man machine interface or housing coupled to the at least one means for transforming;

a sensed signal treatment means configured to identify the location of an impact based on the signals sensed by the at least one means for transforming to thereby provide an apparatus with a touch sensitive man machine interface and to determine the location of the impact, the energy of which was used to change the operational state.

36. Apparatus according to claim 35, configured such that in standby or power down mode the electric consumption is essentially zero Watt.

37. Apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the signal treatment means is configured such that the operational state is changed or not depending on the location of the impact.

38. Apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the signal treatment means is configured such that each one of a plurality of different operational states is attributed to a predetermined area, and that upon the determination of the location of the impact to corresponding operational state is changed.

39. Apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the device further comprises a wake-up means configured to generate a wake-up signal for changing the operational state of at least a sub-system of the apparatus.

40. Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the wake-up means comprises a logic unit, in particular a microcontroller and/or logic gates.

41. Apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the device further comprises an auxiliary power source comprising at least one of a photoelectric cell, a diode, a capacitance, a battery, a piezoelectric cell, pyroelectric or thermoelectric converter or an electrostatic harvesting source or an ambient radiation source.

42. Apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the device is configured such that the energy provided by the power providing means is below a threshold to provide a wake-up signal used to charge the auxiliary power source.